Beach, exemplifies one who has contributed nearly a lifetime to the Olympic sport of weightlifting. Retired from the academic world in 2010, John recently announced (with some provisos) a retirement, after 50 years, from the competition platform. Garhammer began lifting as a youngster in his home state of Pennsylvania. This was a good time to discover the sport, as the famous Bob Hoffman and his York Barbell Club were located nearby. His early exposure to the sport was influenced by world

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... -breaking performances by America's last rank of world-beaters, men such as Tommy Kono, Norbert Schemansky, and Bob Bednarski. His undergraduate studies were at Penn State University, which included a collegiate weightlifting club team with a rich history. He served as president of the PSU Barbell Club, 1968-69. A few years later Garhammer gained greater insights into the sport while in graduate school at nearby Lehigh University. Here fellow student-athlete and future Olympian Brian Derwin kept the training hall active. Changing coasts, John Garhammer moved to Los Angeles. Here, on America's "left coast," an equal number of impressive lifters fought for national prominence.